90% already using saas for some work.
by rick telberg
the debate, if there ever was one, is over.
the leadership at virtually every mainstream accounting firm in the us. now recognizes that they are already using software-as-a-service or “cloud-based” software applications and they regard the move to the cloud as inevitable for the profession.
according to new survey results, they differ only on when, and how fast.
[click to play] better, faster transactions and decisions…
sage’s one-brand cloud strategy is built on a tidal wave of change.
by rick telberg
it would be an understatement to say that the accounting software mavens arriving for the 2012 sage software convention were in a skeptical mood. at last year’s meeting, they were told that some of the products they know and support (and sometimes love) — like mas 90, peachtree, and accpac — are disappearing under a single sage label.
it was a long time in coming. the company, with roots in the 1990’s in state of the art and best, was built through almost helter-skelter acquisitions without merging and consolidating brands, nor even marketing departments, r&d efforts and support departments.
complete sage summit coverage and analysis:
now all that is changing. and it’s about the cloud, subscription pricing and a wrenching transformation to a new business model. the question for sage’s resellers: can sage deliver? the question for sage’s accountant partners: can they keep up?
google exec backs cloud accounting start-up, while xero raises $16 million.
xero online accounting software for small businesses has secured $16.6 million in new funding from existing investors to accelerate growth in the united states. the company recently appointed former sage vice president and general manager jamie sutherland, as president of u.s. operations and doubled its u.s. team.
meanwhile, reach process outsourcing ltd. of chennai, india, has raised a fresh round of angel funding for its portal reachaccountant.com from investors including google-india managing director rajan anandan, who takes a seat on the board.
it’s the best time to learn the tough lessons to apply next year.
with busy season a frenzy, most professionals keep their heads down and their noses to the grindstone.
but if you’re in management, you can’t afford to waste the once-a-year opportunity to take notes on what’s working, what’s not and what to do about it before the next busy season.
with that in mind, roman h. kepczyk, cpa.citp, lists seven tech tends to watch: read more →
leaving the recession behind with new hiring.
software company ceos and cfos say in a new survey that cloud computing and software-as-a-service will drive spending in their industry over the next 12 months.
the survey also finds most expect their company’s business will grow by at least 20 percent in 2011 and that hiring will increase significantly. the software ceo/cfo outlook 2011 study was conducted by sand hill group and underwritten by adaptive planning and intacct.
other key findings include: read more →
“cross-functional business processes” bedevil finance managers.
a survey of over 800 finance professionals attending an introductory webinar on software-as-a-service staged by netsuite and the institute of management accountants shows that the chief drivers to the cloud are both efficiency and effectiveness.
study by bay street group finds significant opportunities for performance improvement in client service and staff productivity
via businesswire
sunnyvale, calif. & laguna hills, calif. & braintree, mass. — cpas in the nation’s largest firms agree that adopting software-as-a-service (saas), portable document scanners and workflow management technologies provides a competitive edge over low-performing firms. however, the top firms also agree they need to adapt to these solutions at a faster rate to provide even greater client service and maintain a more productive staff.
“highly focused on client needs and expectations.”
these and other findings on profit margins, competition between firms and getting up-to-date with technology are the result of a new study conducted by bay street group, and sponsored by the cloudsolutions alliance. managing partners, partners, senior executives and senior staff from top 100 accounting firms participated in the survey, which shows that the best-managed, most successful firms are aggressively adopting cloud, saas and document management solutions. the survey results show that firms are adopting these technologies in order to become more competitive, provider better client service, and improve client retention.
will xero give quickbooks a run for it’s money? cpa jason blumer of blumer cpas thinks so. here he evangelizes for xero, a small-business cloud-based accounting solution from new zealand, and for “social” accounting. more about jason blumer on cpa … continued
in the debate over software-as-a-service, or “cloud” computing, many accountants and finance managers harbor doubts about security, privacy, access and uptime. the next time a vendor suggests the cloud, see how well they can answer these seven questions. 1. what … continued
say goodbye to your servers and file cabinets. saas is coming. kimberly hogan, business development manager for scansnap sales at fujitsu, and taylor macdonald, vice president of channels at intacct corp., make a compelling — and maybe a little controversial … continued
“the more you speak your opinion, the more likely you are to get some ink about it.” scott cytron writes a follow-up to his ground-shaking interview with cpa.citp david beck, where beck warns about the rush to the cloud (cloud … continued
but the accountants who get there first will reap the rewards. by chandra bhansali president and co-founder of accountantsworld hoisted from comments in response to cloud computing for cpas? client portals? be afraid, be very afraid you may not like … continued
